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Archive for Police Response – Page 2

Died 24th May 2014

Wendy Ambrose (77) was found dead at a house in Chapel Road, Boxted, on the Suffolk and Essex border on 24th May 2014. She had been shot twice, in the face and head.

Harold Ambrose (82) is believed to have murdered her. He then shot himself.

It was reported that Wendy Ambrose and her husband had been married for 50 years and had a daughhter.

Ambrose called police to tell them he had shot Wendy Ambrose and planned to shoot himself. Armed police attended the property and discovered the gunman’s body in the back garden. Ms Ambrose’s body was found in a chair in the sittingroom.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Simon Werrett, said: “The post mortem examinations have been completed and both died from their shotgun wounds. This was consistent with the evidence the forensic officers found at the scene and the initial telephone call to the police. I do not believe anyone else was involved in their deaths. Our enquiries will continue and a report will be submitted to HM Coroner in due course. The house will remain under police control while other searches are ongoing.”

Neighbours say Ms Ambrose had been diagnosed with cancer and that her husband was suffering from dementia.

Note: Report was drawn from reports in the Ipswich Star, the BBC and EADT24.

Died 31st July 2013

Linah Keza (29) was stabbed to death at her flat in King Edward Road, Leyton, east London, on 31st July 2013.

In May 2014, at the Old Bailey, Ms Keza’s former partner David Gikawa (38) was found guilty of her murder. She died just days after she told police she was “petrified” of Gikawa.

Ms Keza worked as a model and was the mother of a small daughter who was in the flat when she died.

After her death it emerged that she had been in contact with police on three separate occasions in the days before she was killed.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as stab wounds to the chest. A knife with its end broken off was found at the scene.

The court heard that Ms Keza had recently separated from Gikawa, who was the father of her child.

On the day of the murder, a neighbour heard screaming coming from Ms Keza’s flat. He was so concerned that he left his home to check on her. He heard Ms Keza call for him to “Kick down the door” and so he forced it open, but Gikawa had his back against the door and stopped him entering.

The neighbour looked through a glass panel on the door and saw Gikawa with his arm around Ms Keza’s neck. When he was able to fully open the front door to the flat, he found her lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

Detective Inspector Ken Hughes said: “Gikawa launched a violent attack on his ex-partner and mother of his young child. He showed no remorse and didn’t hang around when confronted by a concerned neighbour who came to her aid.”

The court heard that Gikawa was “motivated by jealousy”. The Old Bailey heard that Ms Keza had previously contacted both the police and social services for protection.

In his opening speech, Peter Finnigan QC, for the prosecution, said: “Linah had told him that their relationship was over.” He said Ms Keza was “was seeing another man” and wanted to be “free from the fear, threats and control”.

Mr Finnigan said Gikawa had previously attacked Ms Keza, once allegedly placing a knife inside her mouth. Police were called but she did not want to go to court and the case was dropped, the jury was told.

A few days before her death Ms Keza tried to obtain a non-molestation order from the court. In a witness statement she said their relationship “went downhill” when she became pregnant and he was “very controlling” and “made me lose a lot of my confidence and self-esteem”. She said: “I’m petrified of him. I don’t want a life of violence any more. I just want to live a safe life.”

Mr Finnigan said Ms Keza had also told police that the accused “carries a kitchen knife that he had sharpened”. He added: “It’s obvious isn’t it that the systems in place failed to prevent her death.”

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is examining police contact with Ms Keza and Gikawa, especially between 23rd and 31st July, and whether information dating back to 2010 was available to officers.

IPCC Commissioner Jennifer Izekor said: “Our investigation will seek to identify the level of contact and information known to Metropolitan Police officers before Linah’s tragic death. We have made contact with Ms Keza’s family and explained why we are involved and outlined our investigation to them. I would like to assure Ms Keza’s family that our investigation will be thorough and rigorous in determining the circumstances surrounding police contact with their loved one before her death.”

The police announced that the neighbour who came to her aid when he heard screaming will be awarded a public commendation.

Went missing 18th March 2009

Claudia Lawrence (then 35), who lived in Heworth and worked at the University of York, went missing on 18th March 2009. Police believe she was murdered.

In May 2014 Michael Snelling (59) from York was arrested on suspicion of murdering Ms Lawrence. This is by far the most significant development in this inquiry in five years.

Ms Lawrence was a chef who worked in a kitchen at York University. She was last seen at around 3.05pm on 18th March, walking back towards her home, and that night she spoke to her parents on the phone. It is thought something happened to her after she left for work early on 19th March. She was reported missing by her father Peter Lawrence on 20 March 2009. Extensive searches of the area were made, but she was not found and police have since treated her disappearance as murder.

North Yorkshire police launched a review of the investigation last year after the force established a new major crime unit.

Previously, in March 2013 Claudia Lawrence’s mother, Joan Lawrence, then the Deputy Mayor of Malton, where she lives, had urged an independent review of the original North Yorkshire Police investigation. At that time, Cllr Lawrence described the police’s attitude as “infuriating”. She said she wanted detectives to make a “fresh start” and “go right back to the beginning”. She felt that in the first investigation there had been too great a focus on her daughter’s personal life and that opportunities had been missed in the early days. She said “I think they have made so many mistakes from the beginning. I think the first 72 hours are crucial, and this is where they slipped up.”

The most significant turn in the new inquiry prior to this arrest was a Crimewatch appeal on the fifth anniversary, a few weeks ago, when police revealed they had carried out new searches in Ms Lawrence’s home and had found new DNA and new fingerprints. There were subsequent calls from the public after that appeal.

It seems that progress is finally being made in an investigation that appeared to be at a dead end.

North Yorkshire Police have been carrying out forensic examinations at Snelling’s house in Burnholme Grove, York and at another house in North Shields, Tyneside, where his mother used to live. Police have also seized a car and said further arrests could not be ruled out.

Note: This report was drawn from the BBC, Daily Mail and the Guardian.

Died 18th April 2014

Doreen Webb (64) was stabbed to death on Good Friday 18th April 2014 at home in Durrington, Wiltshire.

Leonard Webb (68) has been charged with her murder.

Ms Webb had reportedly lived at the address for 30 years with her husband. She had 6 grandchildren and had been married for 40 years.

Webb was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after Ms Webb was found seriously injured.

Paramedics worked to save Ms Webb as she lay fatally wounded with stab wounds to her chest. A Wiltshire Police spokesman confirmed she died at the scene.

Police described the death as a “domestic incident”.

Webb was reported to be a retired army colonel who served in the Royal Artillery.

Note: This report was drawn from reports in the Daily Mail and ITV Meridian.

FOD Comment: FOD has so far been unable to discover any personal information about Doreen Webb. All media reports have focussed attention on her alleged killer and his history in the army or their life as a married couple. Some reports have even named her husband, but left her unnamed. We deplore this deeply disrespectful attitude to victims – which unfortunately is not uncommon – and would welcome respectful comments from anyone who knew and admired or loved Ms Webb.

Died 16th August 2013

Julie Connaughton (57) was beaten to death on 16th August 2013 at her home at Walton Drive, Boythorpe, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Post mortem reports indicate she was hit at least 22 times and had cuts and fractures to her head, hands and arms. She was attacked with a knife and a hammer.

The body of Ms Connaughton’s husband, David Connaughton (60) was found nearby with self-inflicted stab wounds.

Derbyshire Constabulary revealed during an inquest at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court in April 2014 that Ms Connaughton, a businesswoman, was found with head wounds and a blood-spattered pillow over her head. According to police, Connaughton also covered Ms Connaughton’s head with bags from her business, Julie’s Fashion House.

Connaughton attacked Ms Connaughton after discovering she was planning to divorce him. She had spoken to solicitors in July 2013 about getting a divorce.

Detective Constable Owen said: “We knew Julie and David were having marital problems and were almost leading separate lives. We were aware she had started a new relationship and, from speaking to family, David had anxiety and was concerned he was losing Julie and would be made homeless.”

Police checked a computer used by Connaughton, which revealed searches in the weeks leading up to the attack for websites about murder, divorce and homelessness – including: “When someone p***** you off, is it worth killing them?”

DC Owen added: “For some reason he chose that night to go into the bedroom with the knife and the hammer and barricaded the door and attacked Julie before killing himself.”

Police officers discovered the couple, who had been married for nine years on a bed at their home in Chesterfield,

Detective Sergeant Lesley Turner, of Derbyshire Constabulary, confirmed during the hearing that Ms Connaughton’s 9 year marriage had broken down and she had recently filed for divorce.

Ms Connaughton’s daughters Emily and Nicola Corless, whose father was a previous partner of Ms Connaughton, said after the hearing: “Mum was a kind, caring, loving and bubbly person who lived for life. We miss her more every day. We thought she would always be around, she didn’t deserve any of this.”

She was described as a “popular” woman who enjoyed playing darts and dominoes.

The coroner concluded Ms Connaughton’s death was as a result of unlawful killing and that her husband committed suicide. The inquest heard that Ms Connaughton appeared to have defensive wounds. Derbyshire assistant coroner Nigel Anderson said: “The scenario which police are working with is that she was killed and her husband took his own life by inflicting stab wounds upon himself.”

Emily Corless lived with her mother and stepfather and a stepbrother, Richard Connaughton.

Emily Corless texted and phoned her mother on the day of her mother’s death, but when she received no replies she returned to the family home. The door to her mother’s bedroom was barricaded and she could not open it.

DS Turner said: “She discovered her mum’s and step-father’s bedroom door jammed and she got neighbours to help but none of them could open the door so they called the police. Two officers managed to get in and they found mum had significant head wounds. Mum was laid on the bed with her head covered with a pillow and there was blood around the pillow. They saw David Connaughton at the bottom of the bed and he was covered in blood.”

Assistant coroner Paul McCandless told the hearing that Ms Connaughton had died from head injuries and her husband from stab wounds. He concluded Ms Connaughton’s death was as a result of an unlawful killing and her husband’s death was as a result of suicide

He added: “The injuries sustained by Mrs Connaughton are so serious and so repeated and so extreme – with clear evidence of her defending herself – it all points to someone having set about her while their intention can only have been to kill her.”

He explained that Connaughton had barricaded them both in the bedroom and probably attacked her while she was either asleep or about to sleep.

DS Turner said the police had heard of no history of arguments, threats or violence. She said: “Julie had a wide circle of friends that she was closely in contact with and there was no mention or suggestion of violence or threats towards her. This has come out of the blue.”

Reports indicate Connaughton had worked as a carer. He had 28 stab wounds and was found with a knife. Regarding his suicide, Mr McCandless said: “Due to the degree and overwhelming number of injuries there can be no issue about Mr Connaughton’s intent to bring about his death as an extreme and deadly reaction to the crossroads they had reached in their relationship.”

Those with information which may help police should call Derbyshire Constabulary on 101.

Note: This report was drawn from reports in the Daily Mail and Derbyshire Times

Mashael Albasman (25) was found dead in a property in St Michael’s Road, Bournemouth on 30th March 2014.

Faleh Ghazi Albasman (58), Mashael’s father, has been charged with her murder.

Ms Albasman was a Kuwaiti national who was studying in Bournemouth. Her father was reportedly staying with her in a flat in St. Michael’s Road.

Police have not yet said how the woman died, or whether any weapons were involved.

Detective Inspector Stewart Balmer of Dorset Police said “This is a tragic incident for Mashael’s family and on behalf of Dorset Police I wish to extend my sincere condolences and sympathy to her family. The family reside in Kuwait and a Dorset Police family liaison officer, working in conjunction with the Kuwaiti embassy and international liaison officers from the National Crime Agency, is supporting the family and keeping them informed and updated. Enquiries continue to establish further evidence and information about the murder of Mashael. I can confirm that we are not currently looking for anybody else in connection with this death.”

Note: This report was drawn from reports on ITV News Meridient, the Bournemouth Echo and BBC.

Died 29th July 2008

Cassandra Hasanovic (24), known as Cassie, was murdered on 29th July 2008 outside her mother’s home in Bognor, Sussex.

Hajrudin Hasanovic (34) her Serbian-born husband, of Guston, near Dover, was jailed for life in 2009 for her murder by Judge Richard Brown at Lewes Crown Court. He will serve a minimum of 18 years.

He had denied murder but had admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.

Ms Hasanovic was living separately from her violent husband and was on her way to a refuge when she was stabbed to death in front of her young children and mother.

In February 2014 a jury at an inquest in Chichester, Sussex returned a verdict of unlawful killing and criticised the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Sussex Police for failing to take steps to safeguard her life.

The inquest heard that in fear for her life, Ms Hasanovic decided to leave her mother’s home in Bognor Regis and go to a women’s refuge. She had asked police for an escort to the refuge but the request was refused. As her mother started the car with Ms Hasanovic and her children in the back, Hasanovic appeared. He then grabbed his wife, pulled her across one of the children and into the street, where he repeatedly stabbed her with a large kitchen knife.

Following the inquest verdict, West Sussex Coroner Penelope Schofield said she would be writing to the Association of Chief Police Officers, Sussex Police and the CPS to recommend information on domestic violence cases be shared across forces.

Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor in CPS South East, said: “It is now clear that there were shortcomings in the way in which we dealt with Cassandra’s case [in 2007].
Since that time, the CPS and the criminal justice system as a whole have seen significant changes in the way we prosecute domestic violence and sexual offences.”

Detective Chief Inspector Pierre Serra said the murder was a “watershed moment” for Sussex Police and the force had already learnt a number of “important lessons” about how it dealt with domestic abuse. He said “We continue to express our sincere condolences to Cassie’s family who have suffered this tragic loss of a mother and daughter”.
“Sussex Police acknowledges the verdict of the jury in this case and awaits the Coroner’s letter highlighting points raised in the inquest.”

The Inquest seems to have come to very different conclusions from an earlier investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which began an investigation because of police contact with Ms Hasanovic before her death. That report said the officers who dealt with her complaints about her estranged husband had “acted appropriately”. The IPCC also said officers were not obliged to transport her to the women’s refuge on the day of her murder.

At the time, IPCC Commissioner Mike Franklin said: “The IPCC investigation was thorough and I do not believe that the tragic events that unfolded on 29th July could reasonably have been foreseen by Sussex Police and prevented.”

The Coroner’s view and the police and CPS response seem forcefully to contradict this.

During Hasanovic’s two-week trial, jurors heard how he attacked Ms Hasanovic after losing a custody battle for their two young sons, aged five and three, and was being deported. The court heard she had voiced repeated fears to police and her family about a catalogue of threats and abuse she had suffered during their five-year marriage.

Judge Richard Brown told Hasanovic: “I am satisfied on the evidence that you clearly planned to kill your wife and you armed yourself for that purpose. This was an horrendous act of violence committed in a public place in full view of your children, the very children you claimed to care so much for. In killing her, you have deprived those boys of their mother and devastated her family and friends.”

In a statement after the sentencing, Sharon De Souza, the mother of Ms Hasanovic, said “a light has gone out of our lives”. She described her daughter as “a beautiful, loving, compassionate, inspirational woman” who absolutely adored her children. She said
“This brutal, cruel and senseless act has torn our lives apart”.

Hasanovic was arrested on suspicion of attacking his wife after their marriage came to an end in May 2007. A non-molestation order was imposed by the courts in April 2007 banning Hasanovic from venturing within 250m of Ms Hasanovic or from calling or texting her, but he continually breached it.

Jurors heard she fled to relatives in Australia, but was forced to return to the UK after Hasanovic started legal proceedings to try to gain custody of their two sons.

Ms Hasanovic’s mother, Sharon De Souza, told the inquest her daughter gave Sussex and Kent police forces information about where her husband, who lived in Dover, was working and living. Despite telling them he was repeatedly breaching the non-molestation order, no-one seemed to be doing anything to catch him, she said.

Ms De Souza said her daughter had been “unravelling in fear” about what Hasanovic would do to her. During the trial, Hasanovic was described as a “paranoid and jealous” partner who turned his wife from being bright and bubbly to a “petrified” young woman.

Ms De Souza said her daughter’s mobile phone had a direct line to the police and that a panic button had been installed in her home. She said Hasanovic called her daughter continually and even made a friend request to her on Facebook shortly before he killed her. She said Ms Hasanovic had been frightened to go out on her own and would only let one of her children go into daycare because they had CCTV cameras and used codes to get into the building, so there was less of a risk of abduction. She said her daughter felt like a “sitting duck” but could not go anywhere because Hasanovic had taken the children’s passports.

Her mother said “She kept saying to me, ‘I know he’s going to kill me mum’. His time with immigration was running out and she believed that was when he would do something because his situation was getting desperate. She was unravelling in fear and the refuge was offered.” Ms De Souza said she believed the police should have given them help to get to the refuge safely but when they asked for help nothing was done.

During the trial, Prosecutor Philippa McAtasney QC told the court: “He knew that he had lost the custody battle and was about to be deported, so in anger and hate he carried out the threats to kill that he made to Cassandra on numerous occasions.”

After the trial Detective Chief Inspector Graham Pratt, from Sussex Police, described Hasanovic as “cold and callous”. He added “When he realised that he was likely to lose what was most important to him, namely his children, he planned to kill Cassie”.

Died 23rd February 2014

Donna Graham (51) was found dead in her house in Echline Gardens at South Queensferry in Edinburgh, Scotland on 23rd February 2014.

The body of Kenneth Graham (52), Ms Graham’s husband of 30 years, was also found. The police suspect a murder/suicide.

Officers have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. They are investigating whether Ms Graham was killed by her husband and who then killed himself.

Ms Graham’s elder daughter Laura (27) discovered both bodies. She has another daughter Lisa (23). She is also survived by her elderly father Daniel, who lives at Silverknowes.

A neighbour was reported to have said that Laura had arrived at the house and couldn’t get in. He said: “The front and back doors and conservatory were locked, so she went to a neighbours to get the key. When they walked in they found the man in the kitchen. When they went upstairs they found the woman in the bed with a pillow next to her.”

Ms Graham is understood to have worked in administration at the Western General Hospital and her mother, Jeanette, died in August 2013.

A neighbour said: “Donna was a lovely woman. I only knew her to have chat in the street but she was always a nice person, very positive. She was kept quite busy at work. I didn’t really know Kenny. They were well-known in the area because they have lived here for a long time. Their daughters used to play in the street with all the other kids when they were young. It’s an absolute tragedy. I don’t think anyone can believe they’re both gone. I can only imagine what their daughters are going through.”

Died 20th February 2014

Leanne Meecham (26) was found stabbed at her home in Park Street, Westcliff, Essex on 13th February 2014. She was taken to the Royal London Hospital where she was kept in a medically induced coma. She died on 20th February 2014.

Her former partner Simon Meecham (42) of Southend has appeared in court in Chelmsford accused of murdering her.

Ms Meecham was mother to one child.

In a statement, Ms Meecham’s family said: “Leanne was a beautiful woman and a much-loved daughter, sister and mother who always put the happiness of others before her own. She was a devoted mother and a best friend to her siblings, and was always there for anyone who ever needed her help. Leanne would not let people worry about her and even when times were tough for her she showed that she was one of life’s angels.”

The statement went on “Leanne’s tragic and untimely death has left a massive hole in all of our lives that none of us will ever be able to fill and she will never be forgotten by those who love her. We hope that Leanne is now in peace and that justice be allowed to take its course.”

Ms Meecham is reported to have separated from her former partner a year ago. Essex Police have confirmed they had previous contact with Ms Meecham and have referred themselves to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Meecham was found by police inside a black Land Rover Discovery in Thorpe Bay, about an hour after the incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Hall said: “We are grateful to members of the public who have come forward with sightings of the Land Rover Discovery so far, but I would make a further appeal to anyone who saw the vehicle in the area of Pleasant Road and Ash Walk between 9.30 and 10.30am.”

from Jean Calder

The Crown Prosecution Service has announced that Metropolitan police officers arrested following allegations they exchanged “extreme” pornography will face no criminal charges. The three constables were arrested on 19th December 2013 on suspicion of being involved in the possession and distribution of obscene images via mobile phones, contrary to the Obscene Publications Act 1959 and the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. A fourth officer was also interviewed, but not arrested.

The images were described as “of an extreme sexual nature” not involving children. This raises the possibility that the images in question involved rape, sexual or other assault, torture or killing of adults. Certainly, the reference to the 2008 Act, which criminalised such images, would tend to suggest this.

The officers are from the Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG), which guards sensitive sites such as foreign embassies and controls access to New Scotland Yard and Downing Street. Many of its 700 officers are armed. The information came to light following investigation of the incident in which MP Andrew Mitchell was accused of calling Downing Street police officers “plebs”.

A DPG police officer has recently been sentenced to 12 months in prison for lying about that incident. After the trial, Deborah Glass of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), said: “The patchwork of evidence from emails, text messages and telephone calls does not suggest an organised conspiracy to bring down a Cabinet Minister. But there was clearly collusion between certain officers to, as they saw it, blow the whistle on bad behaviour toward one of their own, which ultimately had the same effect.”

Despite this recent evidence of lies and collusion within the DPG and of a closed self-protective culture, the IPCC decided that the images in question could safely be investigated locally by professional standards officers – an extraordinary decision given the national importance of the DPG, the sensitivity of some of the sites it guards and the fact that one of the officers who had been questioned about the pornography was already on restricted duties due to the ‘plebgate’ investigation.

Though they will not face criminal charges, the officers remain subject to investigation into allegations of misconduct. However, according to the Times, the focus of that investigation will be whether the alleged conduct took place while the officers were on or off duty. This will provide little comfort to the public.

We have been reassured the images did not involve children. However, we know nothing about the nature of the adult images, in particular whether they involved images of sexual violence and, as is so often the case, the degradation of women – and occasionally gay men. The key issue is not where and when pornography was exchanged, but whether serving police officers possessed and exchanged for pleasure or entertainment, adult images that may possibly depict rape, sexual abuse and degradation, torture or worse. If they did, these men are surely not fit to act as police officers.

We need to be able to trust police to investigate incidents of rape and sexual and domestic violence with sympathy, discretion and rigour. Yet we know there remain serious concerns about widespread ‘no-criming’ of rape reports in many forces and the discriminatory attitudes of some officers to victims of sexual and domestic crimes, including homicide.

If we are to have a police service fit for the 21st century, we must be prepared to confront sexism within it – and to investigate and, if necessary, dismiss those who are unfit to serve.

Died 22nd July 2013

Jean Redfern (67) and her daughter Sarah Redfern (33) were killed on 22nd July 2013 at their home at Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire.

Peter Redfern (70), husband and father respectively to the two victims, in January 2014 pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility regarding Jean Redfern and guilty to the murder of Sarah Redfern.

Redfern strangled Jean Redfern before bludgeoning Sarah Redfern to death with a hammer. A post mortem revealed that Jean Redfern suffered asphyxiation and Sarah Redfern died from severe head injuries.

At Sheffield Crown Court, the judge Mr Justice Males jailed Redfern for a minimum of 17 years and said he would almost certainly “die in prison”.

The bodies of the mother and daughter were found with plastic bags over their heads that had been secured with electrical flex. Emergency services attended the family home just after 7pm on 22nd July – after Redfern called police saying “I’ve just killed my wife and daughter.”

Following the deaths, a family member said: “The family of Jean and Sarah are devastated by the news of their deaths. Jean was a much loved sister and aunt. Sarah was a wonderful, kind and loving niece and cousin. We are at a loss to know why they died, but ask as a family that we are allowed to grieve and try to come to terms with what has happened.”

A spokesperson for Bonmarche, the Rotherham city centre shop where Sarah Redfern worked, said: “We are deeply shocked to hear the devastating news about Sarah Redfern.
Sarah was a valued member of the Rotherham Bonmarche store where she had worked for over nine years. Our thoughts are with Sarah’s family and friends at this very difficult time.”

Sarah was said to be “inseparable” from her mother.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Singleton of South Yorkshire Police said: “Peter Redfern murdered his wife and daughter in an attack that was shocking and impossible to understand. Only he knows why he committed such a violent act. We will continue to support the family and are relieved on their behalf that they will not have to suffer the trauma of a trial.” He added “Jean and Sarah were a mother and daughter who were as close as a mother and daughter could be. Our thoughts are with Jean and Sarah’s family as they begin this next step of the grieving process.”

Sheffield Crown Court heard Redfern, a retired gas fitter, had been diagnosed with a form of incurable bone cancer in May 2013 and had signed up to a national trial for treatment with particular drug combinations.

Mr Justice Males, accepted that the drugs had caused an “adverse psychiatric reaction” which led to the killings. He said: “Studies have shown….. that in a very small percentage of cases the drugs which you took can lead to an adverse psychiatric reaction, which, when it occurs, is generally mild or moderate but in a very small number of cases can be serious. Tragically, that was to prove to be so in your case.” He said Redfern had, on the balance of probabilities, killed Jean Redfern “on impulse when your mental functioning was abnormally affected”. He accepted that the killer then made the “deliberate and dreadful decision” to kill his daughter because he did not want her to see what had happened to his wife. The judge said “When Sarah arrived home you surprised her, with a carrier bag, electric flex and hammer which you had got ready for use,”. He added “After managing to put the carrier bag over her head you killed her by hitting her repeatedly on the head with severe force.” He commented: “We cannot imagine how she must have felt in what must thankfully have been those brief moments before she died, with a bag over her head and hammer blows raining down on her.”

In setting the minimum term for the murder of Sarah he said the exercise was “in one sense academic” as, due to the killer’s age and illness, “it is as certain as anything can be that you will die in prison”.

Note: This report was drawn from reports in the Daily Mail, the BBC and wearebarnsley.com.

FOD Comment:

We note that, in this dreadful case of the domestic homicides of Jean Redfern and Sarah Redfern, the police spokesperson continued after the trial to refer to both killings as “murder”, despite one guilty plea of manslaughter and one of murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Singleton of South Yorkshire Police commented: “Peter Redfern murdered his wife and daughter in an attack that was shocking and impossible to understand.” He added “Only he knows why he committed such a violent act.”

The judge, on the other hand, seems to have accepted far more readily than the police the idea that “on the evidence (our emphasis) these tragic events would never have taken place if not for the side effects” of the cancer drugs Redfern had taken. FOD finds this hard to accept because Redfern’s guilty pleas ensured evidence, in fact, was not heard.

The judge seems to have accepted the extraordinary argument that Redfern decided to kill his daughter because he did not want her to see what had happened to his wife. There was no explanation as to why this killing – if it was indeed intended to prevent suffering – was planned and carried out with such deliberate cruelty – nor why he hit her so many times with the hammer. Redfern prepared for Sarah Redfern’s return to the house “with a carrier bag, electric flex and hammer”. If he had genuinely been preparing for a quick killing, he surely would not have placed a plastic bag over Sarah Redfern’s head before bludgeoning her to death, nor have secured the plastic bag with electrical flex (as he also did when he killed her mother). Despite the judge optimistically referring to “what must thankfully have been those brief moments before she died”, Sarah Redfern’s death cannot have been quick. She must in fact have died struggling, in great pain and in a state of terror.

The courts do few favours to bereaved families – and no honour to the dead – by minimising victims’ suffering. In reality, all that such statements do is to provide comfort to perpetrators. Surely, this cannot be in the public interest.